GRC Blog

Welcome to the GRC Recorders pages. This blog provides details on all the relevant news of Glamorgan’s scarcer birds, plus all BBRC & WRP decisions that affect us locally. It will also be used to document the status and occurrence of these scarcer species and we welcome contributions from anyone with photographs, artwork or documentation of rarities past, present and future. The GRC also welcomes all seawatching news from around Glamorgan and news of passage migrants in spring & autumn, uncommon birds in our area and unusual behaviour.

All visitors are welcome. You must first register by sending an email to GlamRC@gmail.com before you can contribute. An invite will be sent to your email address. Blog content will be strictly moderated. Access to pages and downloads are available to everyone. All photographs on this blog remain the property of the originator. If you would like to use photos, please arrange permission beforehand.

The Glamorgan Rarities Committee, in conjunction with the Glamorgan Bird Club & Gower Wildlife , have agreed to co-operate with the Welsh Ornithological Society in the sharing of bird records & photographs in the interest of keeping accurate records and to promote birdwatching in North, Mid & South Wales.

Thursday, 31 December 2015

2015 has been a great year for birding in Glamorgan and I've chosen a few of my favourite images from the last 12 months to see us into the New Year. Special thanks to Paul Parsons for use of the Black Stock sketch and to the finders:
Little Bunting - M.C. Powell & D.R.W. Gilmore
Great Spotted Cuckoo - M.J. Bevan
Cattle Egret - N. Donaghy
Ring-necked Duck - A.G. Stamp
Pallid Swift - E.A. Hunter

Here's to more of the same next year! Best of luck birding 2016 everyone!!

Rob Jones kindly sent a very nice shot of the Grey Phalarope at Sker Pool from this afternoon. The bird was at times quite mobile this morning before settling down in the afternoon and showing well to those who made the trip to see it. The retained juvenile dark tertials help age the bird as a first winter.

I can't see why this isn't a stock dove. Strangely this is the 3rd occasion I have seen it at this location in the last two months. Today I photographed it with my phone from approx. half metre away. I thought it might be injured but as I went to pick it up it flew off strongly. Apologies for poor photos, it was 7.45am.

The bird found yesterday (and possibly same bird that was briefly on Kenfig Pool on 24th) was still present this morning. It was very tame and not bothered by runners or dogs after it finally settled on Sker Pool.. However, it had been tricky earlier, flying about the various scattered shallow pools in the area.

Monday, 21 December 2015

The firecrest is still present but has moved north into Hamadryad Park. It was favouring the bank of brambles at the south end of the park just before the roadbridge. It was calling constantly and showing very well this afternoon.

Sunday, 13 December 2015

Gower Ornithological Society field trip today started at Rhossili before calling in on Common Cliff (via Paviland Farm) and finishing at Llanrhidian roost.

At Rhossili - 681 Common Scoters were in Rhossili Bay and 2 GND near Inner Worm. Also 1 Red-throated Diver, 5 Great Crested Grebes, a few Guillemots and a couple of Razorbills, with lots of unidentified Auk sp further out.

The day was hard work on the land with no Golden Plovers <40 Chaffinches, <100 Linnets, <30 Goldfinches, no winter thrushes, no Yellowhammers, but on a positive note Kestrels were almost constantly on view throughout the day.

Friday, 11 December 2015

A Grey Phalarope was showing at Crymlyn Burrows this morning. Initially seen at 09:15 as it flew over the surf over the shallow waters just west of the Neath River mouth, on the receding tide. Settling on the water between short flights where it was very difficult to keep track of, and was subsequently lost not long after first sighting. The bird remained unseen until 11:00 when it was again in the same area flying over the surf and settling on the water. Attempts to close the distance to get any record shots of it were unsuccessful before time ran out.

Note parking on Elba Crescent is now restricted to max 2hrs with 2hrs no return.

Saturday, 5 December 2015

Chris Brewer had a Little Auk while seawtaching at Port Eynon this morning. The bird past close in (just beyond the point) heading west at 08:30. This bird among a steady movement of Auks past Port Eynon and in addition were Great Northern Divers, Red-throated Divers and a dark morph Skua sp (probable Pomarine).